Concealed Sanitary Fitting with a Base Body

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a concealed sanitary fitting with a base body that can be connected to at least one water supply- or drain pipe. The concealed sanitary fitting contains at least one functional component that contains at least one water channel, with the functional component attached detachably to the base body with a clamping device in such a way that the water supply- or drain pipe is connected to the water channel in a water conducting manner. The clamping device engages with the functional component in the direction of insertion, when viewed from the side, in such a way that the functional component can be connected to and disconnected from the clamping device by means of a movement parallel to the surface of the panel.

The invention relates to a concealed sanitary fitting with a base body which can be connected to at least one water-conveying supply or discharge pipe, and with at least one functional component which comprises at least one water passage, the functional component being fixed detachably to the base body by a connection device in such a way that the supply or discharge pipe is connected to the water passage in a water-conveying manner.

Concealed sanitary fittings of this kind are employed where, during the building phase, there is to be prepared a sanitary connection to a base body which is connected to the corresponding domestic water pipe or pipes (supply or discharge pipes). The functional component, for example a thermostat or a two-handle fitting, is only later attached to the base body. In this way, the decision about the kind of functional component can be made very late, since the latter only needs to be installed during the interior works.

From EP 0790 448 B1 there is known a concealed sanitary fitting of the kind mentioned at the outset in which a base body without a functional component is connected to the installation pipes of the domestic installation which are present in the wall opening. After or during the mounting, a flushing block can be attached to the base body, which is used to check the installation for leak-tightness. Subsequently, after completion of any tiling which may be present, the functional component is attached to the base body. Since the functional component here has to be attached to the base body from the front in the installation direction, the known concealed sanitary fitting has a relatively large installation depth. Frequently, therefore, a concealed sanitary fitting of this kind cannot be employed with small wall thicknesses, such as in particular with drywalls or pre-wall systems.

The object of the invention is to design a concealed sanitary fitting of the kind mentioned at the outset in such a way that it has a small installation depth.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the connection device engages on the functional component laterally when viewed in the installation direction in such a way that the functional component can be connected to and detached from the connection device by a movement parallel to the surface of the installation wall.

According to the invention, therefore, the connection device and the functional component are arranged beside one another when viewed in the installation direction, so that a considerably smaller installation depth is required than is the case with the known sanitary fittings, in which the base body and the functional component are arranged behind one another in the installation direction. On account of its small installation depth, the concealed sanitary fitting according to the invention can also be employed with relatively thin walls. The concealed housing in this case provides a stable, easily accessible receptacle for the functional component. The functional component is also easily accessible in the concealed housing for maintenance purposes. The detachable connection device enables simple installation and removal of a wide variety of functional components.

In an advantageous embodiment, the connection device can have a connecting piece for the water passage, which runs substantially parallel to the rear wall of the concealed housing. The connection piece can be simply frictionally connected to, in particular screwed to or screwed into, corresponding receptacles in the base body or in the functional component, and sealed off, and thus forms a water-tight universal connection between the (inner) water passage and the (outer) supply and/or discharge pipe. The course of the connection piece parallel to the rear wall of the concealed housing is very advantageous with regard to a small installation depth.

In order to be able to connect the functional component simply and redetachably to the base body, the connection device can have at least one threaded pin, which positively fixes the connecting piece in a corresponding receptacle in the base body or in the functional component.

Expediently, the functional component can be a valve device with a valve housing or can be a flushing housing. The flushing housing can be used to check the installation for leak-tightness after mounting. It can subsequently be removed again and replaced by the final functional component, in particular a valve.

With regard to universal usability of the base body, a hot-water pipe, a cold-water pipe and/or a mixed-water outflow pipe can be connected to the base body. In this way, all the necessary connections for the common functional components are present.

The connection device can be fastened, in particular detachably, to the concealed housing from outside. This has the major advantage that the domestic water pipes present do not have to be threaded into the concealed housing. In addition, because of the detachable fastening, different connection devices and concealed housings can be combined with one another in modular fashion.

In order to decouple the base body and the functional component acoustically, a sound-decoupling device, in particular at least one rubber sheet, can be arranged between the base body and the functional component. In this way, the transmission of operating noises of the functional component, for example of a solenoid valve or an electric motor of an electrically operated valve, to the base body and thus to the installation pipes is markedly reduced.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with the aid of the drawing, in which

FIG. 1 shows schematically an isometric illustration of a first exemplary embodiment of a concealed sanitary fitting with a base body, on which a valve housing of an electrically operated mixing fitting is arranged;

FIG. 2 shows schematically a section through the concealed sanitary fitting from FIG. 1 along the line II-II therein;

FIG. 3 shows schematically an isometric illustration of the base body from FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows schematically an isometric illustration of the base body from FIG. 1, on which a flushing housing is arranged;

FIG. 5 shows schematically an exploded view of a second exemplary embodiment of a concealed sanitary fitting similar to that from FIG. 1.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a first exemplary embodiment of a sanitary fitting, provided as a whole with the reference symbol 10, with a base body 12 and a valve housing 14 of an electrically operated mixing fitting (not shown further). The base body 12 without the valve housing 14 is shown in FIG. 3.

The base body 12 has an elongate, parallelepipedal, concealed housing 18 which is shallow in the installation direction, in the direction perpendicular to the installation wall (arrow 16), and the front side of which, at the front in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 and at the top in FIG. 2, is open. In addition, the base body 12 comprises a connection device 20 with a parallelepipedal connection body 22 made of brass, which is mounted from outside on a short side wall 18 a, on the left in FIGS. 1 to 4, of the concealed housing 18.

On the rear wall 17 of the concealed housing 18, two elongate, plate-shaped mounting brackets 24 are fastened, preferably screwed, welded or bonded, from outside, and project beyond the concealed housing 18 at its long sides, upwardly and downwardly in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. The protruding regions of the mounting brackets 24 each have two elongated holes 26, which run perpendicular to one another, i.e. parallel to the long edges of the long side walls of the concealed housing 18 and perpendicular thereto, respectively. The elongated holes 26 serve to receive mounting screws (not shown), by which the base body 12 can be aligned and fixed in a wall opening.

On the inner surface of the side wall 18 c which is at the bottom in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, a guide frame 28, which is U-shaped when viewed in the installation direction 16, is fastened. Its limbs extend along the lower regions of the left side wall 18 a and of the right side wall 18 b opposite the latter and are each fastened to the inner sides of these regions. The guide frame 28 projects at the front side of the concealed housing 18 beyond the edges of the lower long side wall 18 c, of the left side wall 18 a and of the right side wall 18 b. The guide frame 28 facilitates the mounting of a trough-shaped cover (not shown) for the concealed housing 18. To fix the cover, a receptacle 30 is provided on the guide frame 28, on the left in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, for a corresponding pin or screw on the cover.

The left side wall 18 a adjoining the connection body 22 has three connecting openings 32 which are arranged at the corners of an imaginary triangle and one of which is shown in section in FIG. 2. Leading through the connecting openings 32 is in each case one connecting piece 34 running parallel to the long edges of the rear wall 17 of the concealed housing 18. One of the connecting pieces 34 is shown in section in FIG. 2 and all three connecting pieces 34 are shown isometrically in FIG. 3. One corner of the triangle points towards the front side of the concealed housing 18, as can be seen in FIG. 3, so that, when viewed in the installation direction 16, above and below the connecting piece 34 nearest the front side of the concealed housing 18 two regions are freely accessible from the open front side of the concealed housing 18.

In these two freely accessible regions, the left side wall 18 a has two through-bores, hidden in FIGS. 1 to 4, for in each case one hexagon socket screw 36, visible in particular in FIGS. 1 and 3.

On the inner surface, facing the valve housing 14, of the left side wall 18 a of the concealed housing 18, in addition a rubber sheet 38 is fastened, preferably bonded on. The rubber sheet 38 serves for the sound decoupling of the base body 12 from the valve housing 14.

The right side wall 18 b of the concealed housing 18 has, in the region of the upper side wall 18 d, two adjacent identical through-holes 40, visible in FIG. 2, which are each closed by a covering plug 42. Provided in the region of the lower long side wall 18 c is a further through-hole 44, to which two opposite screw bores 46 are assigned, this being visible only in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4.

The connection body 22 is fastened detachably to the concealed housing 18 via the two hexagon socket screws 36, which run through the above-explained through-bores through the left side wall 18 a. The heads of the hexagon socket screws 36 are situated in an easily accessible manner in the interior of the concealed housing 18. Corresponding threaded bores, not visible in FIGS. 1 to 4, are provided in the connection body 22.

Leading out from the end side of the connection body 22 adjoining the left side wall 18 a of the concealed housing 18 are an upper connecting passage 47, directed towards the rear wall 17 of the concealed housing 18 and visible in section in FIG. 2, and a lower connecting passage (not visible) and a front connecting passage (likewise not visible) adjacent to the front side of the concealed housing 18. Each connecting passage, explained in the following representatively using the upper connecting passage 47 in FIG. 2, has a circular-cylindrical receiving region 49 which is open towards the right end side of the connection body 22 and in which the respective connecting piece 34 is firmly inserted. The receiving region 49 runs coaxially with the connecting opening 32 in the left side wall 18 a, i.e. parallel to the longer edges of the rear wall 17 of the concealed housing 18.

A step adjoins the receiving region 49 of the upper connecting passage 47. Adjoining the step, a connecting region 48 for a hot-water pipe (not shown) of reduced cross-section leads on rectilinearly approximately in the extension of the receiving region 49 and opens in the end face of the connection body 22 facing away from the concealed housing 18. The lower connecting passage is correspondingly constructed. A cold-water pipe (not shown) leads into the connecting region there, not visible in FIGS. 1 to 4.

The receiving region, not visible in FIGS. 1 to 4, of the front connecting passage opens into a vertical connecting region 50 which has the form of a circular-cylindrical through-bore extending, perpendicular to the front connecting passage and perpendicular to the installation direction 16, from the upper side of the connection body 22 to its lower side. A mixed-water outflow pipe (not shown), which leads to a shower, can be fastened in the vertical connecting region 48, optionally from above or from below. The respectively unused opening of the vertical connecting region 50 is closed by a closing plug (not shown).

The three connecting pieces 34 are constructed identically and as follows:

Each connecting piece 34 consists essentially of a rotationally symmetrical pipe piece which is screwed, to a little less than half of its extent, by an external thread thereon, into the corresponding receiving region 49, having an internal thread, of the connection body 22.

The region of the connecting piece 34 which is inserted into the receiving region 49 has a circumferential annular groove 52 with an annular seal which seals off the connecting piece 34 with respect to the receiving region 49; this is illustrated in FIG. 2 using the example of the upper connecting piece 34. At the end region facing away from the connection body 22, the connecting piece 34 has a further circumferential annular groove 54 with a further annular seal which seals off the connecting piece 34 in each case with respect to a housing receptacle 56 in the valve housing 14; the housing receptacle 56 will be described in more detail further below. The regions of the connecting piece 34 having the annular grooves 52 and 54, respectively, have the same outside diameter.

The region of the connecting piece 34 facing away from the connection body 22 has a collar 58 of larger diameter which extends from the right end face of the connection body 22 until close to the annular groove 54. A circumferential fixing notch 60 with a V-shaped profile is made in the collar 58.

The inside diameter of the connecting piece 34 in the region facing away from the connection body 22 is a little smaller than in the region inserted into the receiving region 49 of the connection body 22 and has an internal thread. As long as no valve housing 14 or a different kind of functional component is mounted on the base body 12, an obturating plug 62 with a corresponding external thread and hexagon socket is screwed in there, this plug closing the connection piece 34 and preventing the penetration of dirt; this is illustrated in FIG. 3.

The connecting pieces 34, which are in connection with the cold-water pipe and the hot-water pipe, communicate, via the corresponding water passage 74 and illustrated waterways, with a mixing valve (likewise not shown) accommodated in the valve housing 14 and actuated by an electric motor 78. A first mixing waterway leads from the outlet of the mixing valve to the shower via a first solenoid valve 64 in the valve housing 14, a second waterway leads via a second solenoid valve 66 to an outlet connecting piece 70 which communicates with a bathtub outlet (not shown).

The side of the valve housing 14 facing the connection body 22 has a plateau 72, visible in FIGS. 1 and 2, which has the three housing receptacles 56. The inner contours and inside diameters of the housing receptacles 56 correspond respectively to the outer contours and outside diameters of the connecting pieces 34; this is only visible in section in FIG. 2. The housing receptacles 56 are each connected to an inner water passage 74 corresponding to the hot-water pipe, the cold-water pipe and the mixed-water outflow pipe, respectively, of which merely the water passage 74 corresponding to the hot-water pipe is illustrated in section in FIG. 2.

Leading into the housing receptacles 56 corresponding to the upper connecting piece 34 and the lower connecting piece 34 is in each case one radial threaded bore 76, visible in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, which is easily accessible from the open front side of the concealed housing 18.

Into each threaded bore 76 can be screwed a threaded pin 78 with a hexagon socket, whose end situated in the housing receptacle 56 tapers conically. With the connecting pieces 34 inserted, i.e. when the valve housing 14, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is arranged at the side of the connection device 20 in the concealed housing 18, the flank of the fixing notch 60 facing away from the connection body 22 is situated in the extension of the axis of the threaded bore 76. On screwing in the threaded pin 78, its conical end engages initially on the flank of the fixing notch 60. The conical end cooperates with this flank in a wedge-like manner, thus drawing the connecting housing 14 to the left in FIG. 2 and thus fixing the valve housing 14 to the base body 12.

The hot-water pipe, the cold-water pipe and the mixed-water outflow pipe are in this way detachably connected in a water-conveying manner to the corresponding water passages 74 in the valve housing 14.

In FIG. 4, the base body 12 from FIGS. 1 to 3 is connected to a flushing housing 80 comprising a forcing screw 82, instead of to the valve housing 14. The flushing housing 80 has three housing receptacles, hidden in FIG. 4, for the connecting pieces 34, which correspond to the housing receptacles 56 of the valve housing 14. The fixing of the flushing housing 80 to the base body 12 takes place analogously to that of the valve housing 14. The flushing housing 80 does not form part of the subject-matter of the invention. Moreover, its function is known and is therefore not described in more detail.

The mounting of the concealed sanitary fitting 10 takes place as follows:

Firstly, the hot-water pipe, the cold-water pipe and the mixed-water outflow pipe, which have already been laid in the wall opening in a known manner, are connected to the respective connecting regions 48 and 50, respectively, of the corresponding receiving region 49 in the connection body 22. The connecting pieces 34 have already been firmly screwed into the receiving region 49 beforehand.

Subsequently, the concealed housing 18 is introduced, with its rear wall 17 in front, in the installation direction 16, into the wall opening, after which the connecting pieces 34 of the connection device 20 are led through the corresponding connecting openings 32 in the left side wall 18 a of the concealed housing 18 from the side. Then, the connection body 22 is screwed to the concealed housing 18 by means of the hexagon socket screws 36.

The concealed housing 18 is subsequently fastened in the wall opening by means of suitable screws via the mounting brackets 24.

Thereupon, the flushing housing 80 is attached. For this purpose, the flushing housing is pushed by way of the housing receptacles 56 onto the connecting pieces 34. After that, the threaded pins 78 are screwed into the threaded bores 76 and thus the flushing housing 80 is fixed to the base body 12.

By means of the flushing housing 80, the water-conveying system is now thoroughly flushed in a known manner in order to clean it, and is subsequently checked for leak-tightness.

The flushing housing 80 remains fastened to the base body 12 to protect the installation until the final functional component is mounted. This may happen only with the completion of the interior works, if necessary only after the tiling has been carried out.

To connect the final functional component, firstly the flushing housing 80 is removed after unscrewing the threaded pins 78. After this, the valve housing 14 is connected and fixed to the base body 12 analogously to the above-described mounting of the flushing housing 80.

Finally, a water outlet (not shown), the shower, any covering elements, for example covering rosettes, and operating elements of the sanitary fitting are mounted.

FIG. 5 shows a second exemplary embodiment of a concealed sanitary fitting 110. The elements which are similar to those of the first exemplary embodiment described in FIGS. 1 to 4 are provided with the same reference symbols plus 100, so that, with regard to their description, reference is made to the statements relating to the first exemplary embodiment. In contrast to the first exemplary embodiment, the constructions of the front, upper and lower connecting passages 147 in the connection body 122 are identical in the second exemplary embodiment. The mixed-water pipe here thus leads into the connection body 122 from the side and not from above or below as in the first exemplary embodiment. The connecting pieces are not shown in FIG. 5; instead, the threaded bores 182 in the connection body 122 are visible here. In addition, the connection body here is fastened to the concealed housing 118 by three screws, instead of only two screws.

As for the rest, the valve housing 114 is constructed a little differently, although this is not explained further here since this does not form part of the subject-matter of the invention.

FIG. 5 additionally shows a tile frame 184 and a bathtub inlet 186 in the form of a flat, upwardly open channel, such as is used by way of example.

In all the above-described exemplary embodiments of a concealed sanitary fitting 10; 110, the following modifications, inter alia, are possible:

The invention is not restricted to the use in showers and bathtub inlets. Rather, it can also be employed for different kinds of concealed sanitary fittings, for example for washbasin or sink fittings.

Instead of the valve housing 14; 114 of the electrically operated mixing fitting or of the flushing housing 80, a different kind of functional component, for example of a thermostat or of a two-handle fitting can also be connected to the base body 12; 112.

The base body 12; 112, instead of being connected to the hot-water pipe, the cold-water pipe and the mixed-water outflow pipe, can also be connected to only one or to two or to more than three supply or discharge pipes, also different kinds thereof. It can in particular also be connected to two or more mixed-water outflow pipes, which lead to further shower heads.

The connection device 20; 120 can also have only one or more than two threaded pins 78. For example, a threaded pin 78 can be provided for each connecting piece 34.

The connecting device 20; 120 can be arranged, instead of outside, also inside the concealed housing 18; 118. It can also be non-detachably connected to the latter.

Instead of the rubber sheet 38, a different kind of sound-decoupling device, for example a spring unit, can also be used.

The connecting pieces 34 can also run obliquely with respect to the rear wall 17. What is important here is that, in the case of a different course than that described, the installation depth of the concealed fitting 10; 110 is not substantially increased and simple mounting is ensured.

The connecting pieces 34 can also be firmly connected to the functional component 14, 80; 114 instead of to the connection device 20; 120. In this case, the corresponding receptacles are provided in the connection device 20; 120.

The connection body 22; 122 can be made, instead of from brass, also from a different material, for example from plastic. 

1. A concealed sanitary fitting with a base body which can be connected to at least one water-conveying supply or discharge pipe, and with at least one functional component which comprises at least one water passage, the functional component being fixed detachably to the base body by a connection device in such a way that the supply or discharge pipe is connected to the water passage in a water-conveying manner, wherein the connection device engages on the functional component laterally when viewed in the installation direction in such a way that the functional component can be connected to and detached from the connection device by a movement parallel to the surface of the installation wall.
 2. The concealed sanitary fitting of claim 1, wherein the connection device has a connecting piece for the water passage, which runs substantially parallel to the rear wall of the concealed housing.
 3. The concealed sanitary fitting of claim 1 wherein the connection device has at least one threaded pin, which positively fixes the connecting piece in a corresponding receptacle in base body or in the functional component.
 4. The concealed sanitary fitting claim 1, wherein the functional component is a valve device with a valve housing or is a flushing housing.
 5. The concealed sanitary fitting claim 1, wherein a hot-water pipe, a cold-water pipe and/or a mixed-water outflow pipe are connected to the base body.
 6. The concealed sanitary fitting of claim 1, wherein the connection device is fastened to the concealed housing from outside.
 7. The concealed sanitary fitting of claim 1, wherein a sound-decoupling device is arranged between the base body and the functional component.
 8. The concealed sanitary fitting of claim 2, the connection device has at least one threaded pin, which positively fixes the connecting piece in a corresponding receptacle in base body or in the functional component.
 9. The concealed sanitary fitting of claim 6, wherein the connection device is detachably fastened to the concealed housing from outside.
 10. The concealed sanitary fitting of claim 2, wherein the functional component is a valve device with a valve housing or is a flushing housing.
 11. The concealed sanitary fitting of claim 3, wherein the functional component is a valve device with a valve housing or is a flushing housing.
 12. The concealed sanitary fitting of claim 8, wherein the functional component is a valve device with a valve housing or is a flushing housing.
 13. The concealed sanitary fitting of claim 2, wherein a hot-water pipe, a cold-water pipe and/or a mixed-water outflow pipe are connected to the base body.
 14. The concealed sanitary fitting of claim 3, wherein a hot-water pipe, a cold-water pipe and/or a mixed-water outflow pipe are connected to the base body.
 15. The concealed sanitary fitting of claim 4, wherein a hot-water pipe, a cold-water pipe and/or a mixed-water outflow pipe are connected to the base body.
 16. The concealed sanitary fitting of claim 8, wherein a hot-water pipe, a cold-water pipe and/or a mixed-water outflow pipe are connected to the base body.
 17. The concealed sanitary fitting of claim 2, wherein the connection device is fastened to the concealed housing from outside.
 18. The concealed sanitary fitting of claim 3, wherein the connection device is fastened to the concealed housing from outside.
 19. The concealed sanitary fitting of claim 4, wherein the connection device is fastened to the concealed housing from outside.
 20. The concealed sanitary fitting of claim 5, wherein the connection device is fastened to the concealed housing from outside. 